This summer, travelers between the United States and Africa can choose from a variety of non-stop or one-stop flights offered by eight different airlines. With a total of 25 routes and 129 weekly departures, the options for transatlantic travel have significantly expanded.
Ethiopian Airlines leads with the highest number of services, closely followed by Delta Air Lines and Royal Air Maroc.
According to simpleflying.com, based on booking data, more than 4.5 million people flew between the US and Africa in the past year. Naturally, the vast majority – almost eight in ten people – connected at a hub en route because of the specific origin-destination, better schedules, more flights, lower prices, alliance affiliation, etc.
But what about non-stop and same-plane, one-stop services? This market is intriguing, and the examination comes as Kenya Airways increases Nairobi to New York JFK flights to a record high.
US to Africa: eight airlines
Examining OAG data for July-August indicates that eight carriers will have 129 weekly departures (each way), as summarized below. This is equivalent to 18 daily flights. It is, of course, the peak season, and the number of services reflects this. As this article was researched and written on February 16, things may change; treat it as a snapshot at a point in time.
Ethiopian Airlines: 30-weekly in July-August 2024
Delta Air Lines: 27-weekly
Royal Air Maroc: 24-weekly
United Airlines: 19-weekly
EgyptAir: 14-weekly
Kenya Airways: 9-weekly (increased from 7)
Azores Airlines: 4-weekly (see below)
Air Senegal: 2-weekly (ouch)
A quick word on Azores Airlines
The A321neo-operating Azores Airlines operates a one-stop, same-plane, same-flight-number service – the definition of a ‘direct’ route – between Boston and Praia, Cape Verde, via Ponta Delgada. With a 75-minute stop in the Azores, it is a (mainly) day service from Boston to Praia, leaving at 11:35 and getting to Africa at 00:35+1.
Naturally, the route focuses on Cape Verden Americans, with a large concentration in Massachusetts. The carrier entered the market to capitalize on the exit of Cabo Verde Airlines, which once flew non-stop using the Boeing 757-200ER.
There are 25 routes
Africa-bound scheduled passenger flights go from seven US airports: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago O’Hare, Miami, Newark, New York JFK, and Washington Dulles. Some 12 African airports have non-stop or one-stop US service: Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos, Lomé, Nairobi, and Praia.
